First Deputy Commissioner Rafael Pineiro was appointed to the New York City Police Department in June 1970. Graduating at the top of his Police Academy class, he received the Chief of Personnel's Award for the highest combined academic and physical fitness scores. He began his career on patrol in the 88 Precinct and was promoted to Sergeant in July 1981; Lieutenant in May 1984; Captain in January 1988; Deputy Inspector in November 1989; Inspector in October 1990; Deputy Chief in September 1991; Assistant Chief in February 1994; and Chief of Personnel in April 2002. He has served in the 17, 24, 41 and 72 Precincts, as well as the Tactical Patrol Force, Patrol Borough Bronx, Legal Division, Office of the Police Commissioner, Criminal Justice Bureau, Housing Bureau, Management Information Systems Division (MISD), and the Recruitment and Retention Unit.

First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro has most recently served as the Chief of Personnel. In that capacity, he modernized a once paper laden personnel system into a streamlined digital medium that utilizes computer based programs to carry out and track essential procedures, including: the Online Performance Evaluation System; the Detail Management System; and the Paid Detail Assignment System. First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro also instituted a variety of other important initiatives, such as the Foreign Language Program; the Retiree Mobilization Program; and the Automated External Defibrillator Program. He also established the Healthnet and the Genealogy Preservation Projects. First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro is the most tenured Chief of Personnel in Department history.

First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro has previously served as Commanding Officer of the 41 Precinct; Office of the Police Commissioner; Patrol Borough Bronx; the Criminal Justice Bureau; MISD; and the Recruitment and Retention Unit. Additionally, he has served as the Executive Officer of the 17 Precinct and the Housing Bureau.

First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro earned a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School, a Master of Public Administration degree in Management from New York University's Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science from the New York Institute of Technology. He is licensed to practice law in the State of New York, as well as the U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. In 1995, he attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as a recipient of the John B. Pickett Fellowship. He is also a graduate of the inaugural class of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University. Furthermore, First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro is a recipient of the Police Combat Cross, the Department's second highest award for valor.

In July of 1995, First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro founded and served as the Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Explorer Academy. This institution, which operates under the auspices of The Greater New York Councils Exploring Division, is comprised of youngsters between the ages of 14 through 20, and serves as a forum for leadership and team development skills.

First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro has been married to his wife, Sheila Ahern, for 20 years.